SL vs NZ 1st Test Day 1 Review: Kamindu Mendis Century takes Sri Lanka to 302/7
Sri Lanka have ended the opening day being in a position of strength. New Zealand got the big wicket of Kamindu Mendis just before the stumps but Sri Lanka with three wickets still in hand.
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test Day 1 Review: At the end of the first day's play, Sri Lanka scored 302 runs against New Zealand for 7 wickets. Kamindu Mendis scored a century. Basically his innings brought the hosts to a place of relief. Sri Lanka's other front-line batsmen could not do justice to their names. New Zealand's young fast bowler William and Rourke's ball was in trouble for the Sri Lankan batters.
Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva decided to bat after winning the toss. However, the Sri Lankan batsmen could not make a good start in 22 yards of the goal. The hosts lost 2 wickets out of 22 runs. Failed opener Dimuth Karunaratne (2). Another opener Pathum Nishanka played an innings of 27 runs off 25 balls.
Dinesh Chandimal (30), who came down at number three, could not give the team's innings much confidence. Veteran Angelo Mathews didn't make a bad start. However, he was injured and forced to leave the field after 12 individual runs. That put more pressure on the Sri Lankan camp.
Skipper De Silva (11) did not get a run under pressure. Mathews batted again to handle the situation. Rourke got out him for 36 runs.
Kamindu took charge of the team after losing 4 wickets for 106 runs. Gets Kushal Mendis as partner. Mendis played an innings of 114 runs off 173 balls. He hit 11 fours. 50-run innings came from Kushal's bat. They added 103 runs in the sixth wicket partnership. Sri Lanka's innings reached a good place in their pair. Ramesh Mendis (14) and Prabhat Jayasuriya are unbeaten at the end of the day.
New Zealand's most successful bowler Rourke took 3 wickets for 54 runs. Glen Phillips 2 wickets for 52 runs. Tim Southee and Ajaj Patel got 1 wicket each.
Playing XIs of both Teams
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando
New Zealand: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (WK), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (C), Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel.
